WWE SmackDown results: Cesaro stands tall before WM Backlash, new women's tag team champions crowned

The latest episode of WWE SmackDown (May 15, 2021) emanated from the ThunderDome at Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida. The show was the final show before WWE’s latest pay per view offering, WM Backlash. To that effect, the show featured a building of feuds featured in the event.

The biggest story on the show remains that of universal champion Roman Reigns. The ‘Head of the Table’ started the show with an impassioned promo. He was then interrupted by his cousin Jimmy Uso.

Jimmy and Roman traded verbal barbs before Cesaro – the man set to face Reigns on Sunday – came out to the ring. This led to a main event match between Cesaro and Jimmy Uso being set up.

Cesaro would win the match via disqualification after Reigns interfered. However, the Swiss Superman made Jey Uso – Roman’s right-hand man – eat two Neutralizers before the show went off the air.

The other key match of the night saw the women’s tag team titles change hands. Defending champions Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax were dethroned by the team of Natalya and Tamina.

The veteran duo are finally rewarded with the gold, a chase that has its roots before WrestleMania this year.

Let’s check out the rest of the results of WWE SmackDown below:

• After the opening segment and women’s tag titles, Intercontinental champion Apollo Crews made his way out to the ring. The champion awarded Commander Azeez a ‘Nigerian medal of honour’ for his services. However, the ceremony was interrupted first by Big E and then Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. A fatal four-way was thus set up for next week’s episode.
• Rey Mysterio faced Dolph Ziggler in a singles match, which Mysterio won. This match is a prelude to Sunday’s match featuring Ziggler and Robert Roode defending their tag titles against Rey and Dominik Mysterio.
• SmackDown women’s champion Bianca Belair cut a promo. She was then interrupted by her PPV opponent Bayley, who warned her that this story “doesn’t end well”.
• Shinsuke Nakamura lost to King Corbin. After the match, Nakamura attacked Corbin and stole his ‘King of the Ring’ crown.

Overall grade: B-